Contracts for Excellence (C4E) Overview

2. Contracts for Excellence (C4E) Overview • The NYCDOE receives a portion of its overall budget in the form of Foundation Aid from New York State. • Part of this funding is subject to the provisions of the State’s “Contracts for Excellence.” • Legislation was passed in response to the November 2006 Court of Appeals decision that every public school child in the State has a right to a "sound basic education" and that the State has the responsibility to increase funding for New York City's public schools. • New York City schools received Contracts for Excellence, or C4E, funds for the first time in the 2007-08 school year. • These funds, under State law, must be distributed to certain schools and must be spent by those schools in specific program areas.

3. Contracts for Excellence (C4E) Requirements • Funds must support specific program initiatives. • Class Size Reduction– creating more classrooms or school buildings, assigning more than one teacher to a classroom, and other approved methods, to facilitate student attainment of State learning standards, with priority given to pre-K through grade 12 students in overcrowded schools, particularly those requiring academic progress, schools in need of improvement, schools in corrective action, and schools in restructuring status • Time on Task– programs focusing on students who may require additional or increased individualized attention in order to raise achievement • Teacher & Principal Quality Initiatives– programs supporting development & retainment of high quality teachers and principals for raising achievement in struggling schools • Middle & High School Restructuring– instructional and structural changes in middle and high schools to support class size reduction and raise achievement in struggling schools • Full-Day Pre-Kindergarten Programs • Model Programs for English Language Learners– programs aimed at supporting schools in adopting “best practices” for raising achievement among English Language Learners

4. Contracts for Excellence (C4E) Requirements (cont’d) • 2. Funds must go to students with the greatest educational need. • English Language Learners • Students in Poverty • Students with Disabilities • Students with Low Academic Achievement or At Risk of Not Graduating 3. Funds must supplement, not supplant. • Expenditures made using C4E funds must “supplement, not supplant” funding provided by the school district; however, SED has provided guidance explaining that certain expenditures may be paid for with C4E funds even though these programs or expenditures were originally or have been typically paid for by the district or by other grants. • For new or expanded programs only* • Should be used towards meeting school’s overall educational goals as outlined in the School Comprehensive Educational Plan (SCEP) *No new C4E dollars have been made available since FY10. NYCDOE is currently in Maintenance of Effort status.

5. Contracts for Excellence 2014-2015 • The New York State 2014-2015 Budget extended the Contracts for Excellence to the 2014-2015 school year and required that New York City continue to fund existing Contracts for Excellence programs at the same level they were funded during the 2013-14 school year. • For the current year, FY15, there are no new Contract for Excellence funds to apply towards new or expanded programs. • NYCDOE is in “maintenance of effort” status, meaning that C4E funds will be used to maintain programs that were approved in prior years. • The total C4E amount for FY15 is $531 million, out of which $183 million is embedded in Fair Student Funding, the primary funding source for schools. Fair Student Funding is allocated based on student educational attributes including ELL, IEP, academic proficiency, and poverty status. Details for Fair Student Funding can be found by visiting: http://schools.nyc.gov/offices/d_chanc_oper/budget/dbor/allocationmemo/fy14_15/AM_FY15_FSF1.htmlThe remaining $348 million is distributed through school allocations and district-wide programs. This presentation represents the $348 million.

6. State Funding Breakdown STATE FUNDS FY15 $531 million $348 MRESTRICTED (funds must be used according to NYSED C4E guidelines) $183 MUNRESTRICTED (funds not subject to C4E restrictions, may be used as needed) $348 million $183 million Distributed to schools that were underfunded at the time of conversion to Fair Student Funding in 2008 Funds subject to C4E $30 million $318 million “Maintenance of Effort” for existing priorities Restricted C4E funds

7. NYC’s 2014-15 Preliminary C4E Plan How We Propose to Allocate the $348 Million Restricted Funds The FY15 Contracts for Excellence allocations described in this plan are preliminary. Funds are subject to a public engagement process and approval by the State Education Department. Please note that distribution of all funds is subject to allocation guidelines as specified in State regulations.

8. 2014-15 Citywide C4E Plan: All Funds by Program Area • *All proposed allocations described in this plan are preliminary and contingent on further analysis of school-based conditions

9. Proposed Discretionary Spending: By Program Area

13. Proposed Discretionary Spending – CEC 2* Schools in this district were allocated discretionary Contracts for Excellence funds. Schools have proposed to spend those funds as follows: Class Size Reduction $84m (35%) Time on Task $77m (32%) Teacher & Principal Quality $58m (24%) Comprehensive information about these proposed allocations – including school-level program strategies and performance targets - are available online at: http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/funding/c4e/default.htm *All proposed allocations described in this plan are preliminary and contingent on further analysis of school-based conditions. 13

14. 14-15 C4E Plan: All Funds By Program Strategy – CEC 2* *All proposed allocations described in this plan are preliminary and contingent on further analysis of school-based conditions. ** Targeted allocations (CTT and ASD Classrooms) + school-level discretionary allocations 14

15. 14-15 C4E Plan: All Funds By Program Strategy – CEC 2* *All proposed allocations described in this plan are preliminary and contingent on further analysis of school-based conditions. 15

16. Class Size Reduction Planning • In light of the current federal and State financial constraints, it was necessary to re-evaluate the original five year Class Size Reduction Plan that was first introduced in 2007. That plan was predicated on an increase in Contract for Excellence funds year over year which has not been realized. After consulting with NYSED, a proposed amended Class Size Reduction Plan was presented for approval to NYSED. • On July 2, 2013, SED approved NYCDOE’s amended Class Size Reduction Plan which focuses on a cross section of schools that have predominantly large class sizes and low student performance. NYCDOE has received approval for the FY14 plan. • NYCDOE identified a list of 75 schools with: • 1. High average class size in the previous school year (average of 26 students per class or higher), • 2. Low student performance (NYCDOE Progress Report grade of C, D, or F as well as struggling schools), • 3. Abuilding utilization rate of less than 100 per cent. • For FY15, NYCDOE is committed to supporting these schools to help reduce class size and improve student performance. Updated information regarding a FY15 Class size Plan will be posted on the NYCDOE C4E website.

17. Public Comment We will take public feedback into account in the coming months as we continue to develop a citywide Contracts for Excellence plan. A final date for public comment will be posted once all CEC dates have been scheduled. The public may comment on any aspect of the plan, including: How schools are planning to spend their discretionary funds within the six allowable program areas How the DOE is allocating targeted Contract funds to schools How the DOE is allocating funds for District-Wide Initiatives NYC’s Class Size Reduction plan The public comment process Educators, parents, and all other members of the New York City community with feedback should e-mail us atContractsForExcellence@schools.nyc.gov